“The expression it never rains but it pours” We have been very fortunate to have had the company of “Sophie from Chateau Mourgues du Gres and Brett Crittenden from E.Guigal to guide us through the wines of the Cote de Rhone and Costieres De Nimes. No doubt a drought is to follow !!
On Wednesday the 29th we held a Tasting of E.Guigal wines of the Rhone hosted by Brett Crittenden, and I can safely say a memorable night was had by all.Firstly to the man himself Brett has over 30 years in the Wine Industry, working in Australia, Argentina, France, UK and Russia. He is a Senior International Wine of more than 25 years. A graduate of the Prestigious Australian Wine School “Roseworthy College”. In his time he has also work for LVMH (Moet&Chandon) but tonight he was here as representative of Guigal.
We were in good company on the night with our friends from the Dundalk wine circle and our loyal customers, and the craic was good.On the night we tasted a selection of reds and whites from the Cote de Rhone Rouge to Cote-Rotie Brune Et Blonde de Guigal. And along the way Brett regailed us with tales of his work, the team at Guigal, they passion for there wines, and the thread that weave its way through the evening was the love that the Guigals have for there vineyards and there wines, and in many ways it seems that they are for a moment in time the caretakers, who nurture, the vines come what may and in return create wines of elegance and beauty but with structure, and depth, and the ability to age beautifully.
The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by “Etienne Guigal in the Ancient village of Ampuis, home of the wines Of Cote-Rotie. In his time he madeover 67 vintages and his son Marcel took over from him in 1961, along aside his wife Bernadette and Son Philippe, the now oversee a burgeoning empire which includes the negociant wines of E.Guigal, Vidal Fleury and De Vallouitas well as the domain wines from his own vineyards. Some of the best known of these include the single-vineyard Cote -Rotie wines, La Mouline, La Landonne and La Tarque, as well as Chateau d’Ampuis from six different sites, and the voluptuously fragrant Condrieu La Doraine.The Team of Marcel and Philppe work 6 days on average a week tasting approximately 300 wines a day, so one can see why each bottle you taste is so well crafted, other points of interest are that the make there own barriques and the just don’t buy the timber for these and then fashion them the buy the trees so there is traceability from the tree to the barrel.
This and the relationship which the have built up with the vineyard owners that supply them there grapes for there negociants wines has lead to the wines that we know as Guigal!
And to the wines themselves we tasted a rose, a couple of whites and four reds and yes I did have some that I favoured more than the rest but I think we are all like and that is the beauty of wine!
Cotes-Du-Rhone Rose 2008,a blend of 50%Grenache,40% Cinsaut, 5%Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, the wine is drawn off the skins after a brief maceration and has a long temperature controlled fermentation. Pale pink, brillant and fresh, with a hint of red onion, and an expressive nose of red fruits and some citrus notes, withnotes of raspberry and redcurrant, with plenty of fruit on the palate and fine body wine with a long finish. A real enjoyable drink on a fine summers day as the alternative to a red.
Drink now to three years, and can be served with Grilled fish, white meat and poultry.
Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006, a blend of 55%Viognier, 20%Rousanne, 10%Marsanne, 5%Clairette, 5%Bourboulenc, 5%Grenache Blanc. Pale gold in colour star bright, On the nose there is a freshness and depth, witharomas of white flowers and stone fruits. On the palate there is excellent acidity and great depth, jam packed with fruits, peach , apricot and honeysuckle. Drinking well now but will keep for another 2-3 years. Robert Parker rated it at (88-89) deserves a higher mark than this I think and a real gem , and one for the loyal followers of the Rouge in this range to try.
Serve with starter, fish or Asian food or just as nice to have a glass on its own with a good Book!
Guigal Condrieu 2008,a 100% Viognier, ( a point of interest here is the soil type Sand and Granite, with traditional cultivation on steep terraced slopes, and on the nose and on the palate there is a real presence of minerality, and this surely is the terrior) aged in 1/3 new barrels and in stainless tanks. Brillant, clear golden yellow, with a complex nose of floweres(violets) and fruits(apricot, peaches and citrus), mineral hints , they wine displays a nervous tension. On the palate the wine is fresh, round with a richness and full bodied with a long elegant finish. This is a Harmonious wine which is delicate and elegant. Drinking now and up to 5 years.
Serving suggestion, Aperitif, fois gras or scrambled eggs and truffles, delicate fish.
And to the Reds
Cotes-du-Rhone Red 2005,a blend of 55%Syrah, 35%Grenache,8%Mourvedre,2%Autres, no new oak is used and it is aged for1 and 1/2 years in oak foudres. Witha deep ruby colour and aromas of fresh berry fruits, hints of white pepper, the wine is full bodied with smoothtannins. It is a rich and aromatic wine, with a long finish with plenty of elegance due to the well balanced tannins and fruit. Drinking now and up to 8 years.
Serving suggestions, cold meats, meat, game bird and chesse.
A classic wine which offers quality each and every vintage.
Crozes-Hermitage Red 2005, 100% Syrah. No new oak used and aged for 18 months in oak barrels before bottling , deep ruby colour with aromas of red fruits, red cherries, strawberries, with hints of oak, a structured tannic wine and blackcurrant and vanilla notes on the palate. A well balanced wine with bodyand depth, drinking now +10 years.
Serving suggestions, Red meat, game and cheese.
Chateauneuf-du-pape Red 2003
Scoring (90-94)- The Wine Advocate by Robert A .Parker Jr – 12/04. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10%Syrah, 5%Mourvedre and others.the wine is aged in oak foudres for more than two years. This is a complex wine, a dark deep red colour, with aromas of spices, red fruits and mineral notes. On the palate the tannins are round and smooth,with blackcurrant, raspberry, plums and hazelnuts. A long elegant finish , a wine of balance and harmony with a warmth to it. Ageing potential 15 years drinking now.
Serving suggestions, red meat, game and cheese.
And finally to Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde de Gugial 2004,96%Syrah,4%Viognier aged for more than three years in oak 50% which is new oak. The 2004 Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde is an elegant, softer, lighter style than either the 2005 or 2003. Dark ruby red, with aromas of spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. Soft tannins, with notes of black cherries, raspberry, black berry, vanilla and licorice. The wine is medium bodied soft and elegant and ideal for drinking now +15 years
It was a great evening and Brett made it so with his easy relaxed manor and showed us all how much fun wine tasting and learning can be. My favorites on the Night were the Cote de Rhone Blanc, a great wine to have in the fridge on the ready. The Condrieu and the Chateauneuf-du-Pape for there complexities and there balance and smoothness and pure elegance.
The Wines of E.Guigal
“The expression it never rains but it pours” We have been very fortunate to have had the company of “Sophie from Chateau Mourgues du Gres and Brett Crittenden from E.Guigal to guide us through the wines of the Cote de Rhone and Costieres De Nimes. No doubt a drought is to follow !!
On Wednesday the 29th we held a Tasting of E.Guigal wines of the Rhone hosted by Brett Crittenden, and I can safely say a memorable night was had by all.Firstly to the man himself Brett has over 30 years in the Wine Industry, working in Australia, Argentina, France, UK and Russia. He is a Senior International Wine of more than 25 years. A graduate of the Prestigious Australian Wine School “Roseworthy College”. In his time he has also work for LVMH (Moet&Chandon) but tonight he was here as representative of Guigal.
We were in good company on the night with our friends from the Dundalk wine circle and our loyal customers, and the craic was good.On the night we tasted a selection of reds and whites from the Cote de Rhone Rouge to Cote-Rotie Brune Et Blonde de Guigal. And along the way Brett regailed us with tales of his work, the team at Guigal, they passion for there wines, and the thread that weave its way through the evening was the love that the Guigals have for there vineyards and there wines, and in many ways it seems that they are for a moment in time the caretakers, who nurture, the vines come what may and in return create wines of elegance and beauty but with structure, and depth, and the ability to age beautifully.
The Guigal domain was founded in 1946 by “Etienne Guigal in the Ancient village of Ampuis, home of the wines Of Cote-Rotie. In his time he madeover 67 vintages and his son Marcel took over from him in 1961, along aside his wife Bernadette and Son Philippe, the now oversee a burgeoning empire which includes the negociant wines of E.Guigal, Vidal Fleury and De Vallouitas well as the domain wines from his own vineyards. Some of the best known of these include the single-vineyard Cote -Rotie wines, La Mouline, La Landonne and La Tarque, as well as Chateau d’Ampuis from six different sites, and the voluptuously fragrant Condrieu La Doraine.The Team of Marcel and Philppe work 6 days on average a week tasting approximately 300 wines a day, so one can see why each bottle you taste is so well crafted, other points of interest are that the make there own barriques and the just don’t buy the timber for these and then fashion them the buy the trees so there is traceability from the tree to the barrel.
This and the relationship which the have built up with the vineyard owners that supply them there grapes for there negociants wines has lead to the wines that we know as Guigal!
And to the wines themselves we tasted a rose, a couple of whites and four reds and yes I did have some that I favoured more than the rest but I think we are all like and that is the beauty of wine!
Cotes-Du-Rhone Rose 2008,a blend of 50%Grenache,40% Cinsaut, 5%Mourvedre, 5% Syrah, the wine is drawn off the skins after a brief maceration and has a long temperature controlled fermentation. Pale pink, brillant and fresh, with a hint of red onion, and an expressive nose of red fruits and some citrus notes, withnotes of raspberry and redcurrant, with plenty of fruit on the palate and fine body wine with a long finish. A real enjoyable drink on a fine summers day as the alternative to a red.
Drink now to three years, and can be served with Grilled fish, white meat and poultry.
Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2006, a blend of 55%Viognier, 20%Rousanne, 10%Marsanne, 5%Clairette, 5%Bourboulenc, 5%Grenache Blanc. Pale gold in colour star bright, On the nose there is a freshness and depth, witharomas of white flowers and stone fruits. On the palate there is excellent acidity and great depth, jam packed with fruits, peach , apricot and honeysuckle. Drinking well now but will keep for another 2-3 years. Robert Parker rated it at (88-89) deserves a higher mark than this I think and a real gem , and one for the loyal followers of the Rouge in this range to try.
Serve with starter, fish or Asian food or just as nice to have a glass on its own with a good Book!
Guigal Condrieu 2008,a 100% Viognier, ( a point of interest here is the soil type Sand and Granite, with traditional cultivation on steep terraced slopes, and on the nose and on the palate there is a real presence of minerality, and this surely is the terrior) aged in 1/3 new barrels and in stainless tanks. Brillant, clear golden yellow, with a complex nose of floweres(violets) and fruits(apricot, peaches and citrus), mineral hints , they wine displays a nervous tension. On the palate the wine is fresh, round with a richness and full bodied with a long elegant finish. This is a Harmonious wine which is delicate and elegant. Drinking now and up to 5 years.
Serving suggestion, Aperitif, fois gras or scrambled eggs and truffles, delicate fish.
And to the Reds
Cotes-du-Rhone Red 2005,a blend of 55%Syrah, 35%Grenache,8%Mourvedre,2%Autres, no new oak is used and it is aged for1 and 1/2 years in oak foudres. Witha deep ruby colour and aromas of fresh berry fruits, hints of white pepper, the wine is full bodied with smoothtannins. It is a rich and aromatic wine, with a long finish with plenty of elegance due to the well balanced tannins and fruit. Drinking now and up to 8 years.
Serving suggestions, cold meats, meat, game bird and chesse.
A classic wine which offers quality each and every vintage.
Crozes-Hermitage Red 2005, 100% Syrah. No new oak used and aged for 18 months in oak barrels before bottling , deep ruby colour with aromas of red fruits, red cherries, strawberries, with hints of oak, a structured tannic wine and blackcurrant and vanilla notes on the palate. A well balanced wine with bodyand depth, drinking now +10 years.
Serving suggestions, Red meat, game and cheese.
Chateauneuf-du-pape Red 2003
Scoring (90-94)- The Wine Advocate by Robert A .Parker Jr – 12/04. A blend of 80% Grenache, 10%Syrah, 5%Mourvedre and others.the wine is aged in oak foudres for more than two years. This is a complex wine, a dark deep red colour, with aromas of spices, red fruits and mineral notes. On the palate the tannins are round and smooth,with blackcurrant, raspberry, plums and hazelnuts. A long elegant finish , a wine of balance and harmony with a warmth to it. Ageing potential 15 years drinking now.
Serving suggestions, red meat, game and cheese
.
And finally to Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde de Gugial 2004,96%Syrah,4%Viognier aged for more than three years in oak 50% which is new oak. The 2004 Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde is an elegant, softer, lighter style than either the 2005 or 2003. Dark ruby red, with aromas of spices, red berries and delicate oak aromas. Soft tannins, with notes of black cherries, raspberry, black berry, vanilla and licorice. The wine is medium bodied soft and elegant and ideal for drinking now +15 years
It was a great evening and Brett made it so with his easy relaxed manor and showed us all how much fun wine tasting and learning can be. My favorites on the Night were the Cote de Rhone Blanc, a great wine to have in the fridge on the ready. The Condrieu and the Chateauneuf-du-Pape for there complexities and there balance and smoothness and pure elegance.
Keep tasting!